Gloss Angeles – “The Key to Healthy Hair Color with Julia Roberts’s Go-To Colorist Kadi Lee”

Date: February 27, 2026
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan
Guest: Kadi Lee (Celebrity Hair Colorist, Co-Founder of Highbrow Hippie)

Episode Overview

In this dynamic and personal conversation, Kirbie and Sara go deep with Kadi Lee, renowned celebrity colorist (makers of Julia Roberts’s signature shades) and founder of Highbrow Hippie salon. The trio covers everything from at-home hair disasters and evolving industry trends to the emotional highs and lows of working with A-list clients and creating sustainable, holistic haircare. Kadi offers a candid, practical perspective on modern hair health, debunks viral TikTok trends, and shares invaluable advice for anyone obsessed with color—whether you’re a salon regular or braving a box dye at home.

Kadi Lee’s Hair Kit Must-Haves and Artistic Approach

[01:29 – 02:43]

• Favorite tools:

  • Aveda paddle brush (“my little good luck charm…still the same one from beauty school: detangles, not falling apart”)
  • Mason Pearson brush
  • Christophe Robin shade variation masks (“little punch to color—gold, chestnut, copper—for when you don’t need a full toner”)
  • Unique technique: “I go to Blick and get these Japanese fan brushes…the kind used for ceramics. That’s my little secret for natural painting.”
    • Quote: “I don’t use a regular hairbrush paintbrush when I do my balayage. I actually go to the paint store.” – Kadi [02:19]

• Artistry: Kadi’s approach blends technical skill and true artistry, seeking natural, dimensional color while preserving hair integrity.

The Bond Builder Debate

[02:54 – 05:13]

• Skeptical on Overuse:

  • “I’m not a fan. [Bond builders] may have been overused…they maybe should have been left in salons” – Kadi [03:04–03:07]
  • Issues: Overuse at home can compromise hair—causes heaviness, funky texture, even snapping: “Too much use of it snaps it eventually.” [03:51]
  • Draws parallel to protein treatment overuse.

• Nuanced Perspective:

  • “There’s a time and place…and some brands do it better than others.”
  • Praises modern innovations: “[K18 and a prey] have done a fantastic job…using newer, better technologies that are actually filling in the cuticle.” [05:17]

Kadi’s Accidental Path from Spelman Grad to Celebrity Colorist

[05:31 – 10:46]

• “I was always the one that would do everyone’s hair in the dorms.” [05:38]

• Couldn’t find a job post-graduation; mother prompted her to “figure it out," leading to beauty school at Aveda (“my family and friends chipped in...the story wrote itself”).

• NY beginnings at Frederic Fekkai, led to years in LA (“walked daily from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills until I could get a car”).

• “It was a mass walkout from Fekkai to Serge Normant at John Frieda. They tried to offer free services to keep clients!” [08:18–10:24]

• Industry Evolution:

  • The first major stylist-to-brand acquisition shaped the modern salon industry: “Fekkai selling to Procter & Gamble…it became corporate overnight…the first time a stylist had made such a brand with his name on it.” [10:46]

Early Hair Color Pitfalls & Lessons

[11:22 – 12:20]

• Kadi practiced on herself—sometimes hilariously disastrous:
  • “Pits: me showing up to my mom’s wedding as a blonde, but it was really orange. Photographic evidence does exist!” [11:37]
  • “You can always fix it. That’s the beauty of hair.”
  • Built confidence and translated her love of painting into a lucrative career.

Julia Roberts & Celebrity Client Tales

[12:20 – 19:01]

• Meeting Julia via Serge Normant:

  • “The first time I did [Julia’s] hair, I had to take her in her kitchen from brunette to blonde in three hours…It was out of body…I was a mute, focus mode.” [13:41–14:13]
  • “Serge called me after and said she loves it and you, but she wonders: does she speak?” [14:03]

• Julia’s Loyalty:

  • “She is as loyal as they come…whatever you think Julia is like, that is exactly what she’s like. She’s the best.” [15:38]

• Her Signature Red:

  • “My favorite is probably deep copper, some golden undertones.” [16:41]

• Other Famous Heads:

  • Brad Pitt: “He has great hair—and he’s a really, really nice person. Dreamy.” [17:53–18:02]
  • “Don’t do your hair on set—there are specialists for a reason! Had to fix Brad’s when it went a little green.” [18:15]

Real Talk: Home Hair Color—What to Avoid and What Actually Works

[19:01 – 22:47]

• Dark to Light: “Don’t do it at home. You’ll end up with orange undertones…Everything bad that can happen will probably happen.” [19:30]

• Light to Dark: “Safer. If you must, go a shade lighter than you think you want—hair grabs darker than you expect.”

  • Pro tip: Use shade variation masks (e.g., Christophe Robin) to keep things rich between colors.
  • “I don’t believe in spending life in the salon. Just do as much as you need.” [20:38]

• Box Dye at Home:

  • “No. No box dyes I would recommend.” [21:07]
  • The “Miracle” Box Dye Conditioner:
    • “It is a completely made up scenario…you’ve just wrecked your hair and now it’s soaking up whatever goodness you’re putting on it.” [21:37]
    • “Can we all pretend this is not a thing?”
    • “If you haven’t used a true hair mask before, of course it feels nice. But there’s nothing special in there.” [22:09]

Highbrow Hippie: Holistic, Wellness-First Haircare

[22:48 – 27:43]

• Origins:

  • Started as a blog, then brick & mortar salon in Venice, CA, co-founded with college friend, Micah.
  • “We wanted to almost build the anti-salon. It’s quiet, the music is soothing, never jarring. After 20 years, I couldn’t do it anymore.” [24:50]
  • Salon layout includes outdoor painting to minimize chemical inhalation—proved invaluable during the pandemic.

• Product Philosophy:

  • “Clients came back after lockdown with shedding, inflamed scalps, nervous systems shot…We surveyed them, researched their at-home habits, and it shaped what products we would develop.”

• Key Offerings:

  • Water-based scalp serum (not oil): “Oils on scalp clog it…everyone wanted help with growth without dirtying the hair.” [26:49]
  • Overall well-being supplement: “We’ve always had this inside-out approach.”

• Serum Claims:

  • “Legally, there are certain claims you can make—it adds to density, hair feels thicker, calms scalp and inflammation. Your scalp ages 6x faster than your face!” [27:54]
  • Wash your hair properly and frequently enough, especially with color-treated hair: “If you don’t keep the elasticity…you’ll have hair loss and issues with growth.” [28:38]

Hair Washing Wisdom & Product Pet Peeves

[29:00 – 31:36]

• Proper Technique:

  • Most people don’t clean their hair or scalp correctly—not massaging, missing hairline and ears, just letting water run over.
  • “Come with clean, washed hair. Sometimes clients…they’re not actually clean; to the sink you go!” [29:32]

• Oils:

  • “Overrated hair product? Oils.” [31:04]
  • “I don’t hate oils! It just went too far…a little goes a long way.” [31:09]
  • Sara: “That’s the name of your book: It Went Too Far.” [31:28]

Hair Color Trends & What to Embrace (or Leave Behind)

[31:36 – 34:32]

• End of Ashy Era:

  • “So glad the need for ashy hair is gone! Only flattering on 1% of the population. If you’re in the sun, your hair is going to have warmth—that’s what’s flattering.” [31:46–32:35]
  • Sun-In & Color Phobia: Orange undertones became feared, so people swung hard to ash—“We went too far.” [33:11]

• Purple Shampoo:

  • “There are good ones and bad ones. The right one can enhance a beautiful blonde, but mostly, put it away.” [34:17]
  • Favorite: Christophe Robin, also likes Virtue.

Advice for Lasting Hair Health

[35:21 – 37:43]

• The Cardinal Rule:
  • “Be loyal to one person. Don’t salon-hop. Consistency will get you beautiful hair.” [35:31]
  • “All my clients who look amazing stay with me for decades. That’s the secret.”
• If You Hate Your Color:
  • “Speak up as soon as possible—a good colorist will want to make you happy. The art of the consultation has left the building. Know your boundaries, establish what’s about to go down, and you’re probably in a safe place. If you’re unhappy, you can almost always reverse it; it’s only hair.” [36:43]

What Makes a Great (or Bad) Client?

[38:22 – 41:06]

• The Good:
  • “My clients let me be. I’m a bit quiet, and they give me space. We’re all a bit overstimulated—sometimes silence is just good!”
• The Bad:
  • Constant phone use in the chair (“chin up, chin up, I can’t paint at that angle!”), people uncomfortable with silence, lack of empathy or awareness.
  • “I want clients with empathy. Treat each other like human beings—awake a little bit.” [40:12]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You can always fix it. That’s the beauty of hair.” – Kadi [11:36]
• “She’s [Julia Roberts] as loyal as they come. Whatever you think Julia is like, she’s the best.” – Kadi [15:38]
• “Don’t do it [dark to light] at home. Everything bad that can happen will probably happen.” – Kadi [19:30]
• “I wanted to almost build the anti-salon.” – Kadi [24:50]
• “A little [oil] goes a long way. I like. That’s the name of your book: It Went Too Far.” – Sara & Kadi [31:28]
• “Be loyal to one person. Don’t salon-hop…Consistency will get you really beautiful hair.” – Kadi [35:31]
• “I want us all to just be awake a little bit. So that’s the client I need.” – Kadi [40:33]

Where to Find Kadi Lee & Highbrow Hippie

[41:24]
Website: highbrowhippie.com
On Amazon; new retail launch coming soon!

Key Timestamps

• 01:29: What’s in Kadi’s kit? Favorite tools/products
• 03:04 – 05:13: Bond builder controversy & Kadi’s opinion
• 05:31 – 10:46: Kadi’s career arc & industry drama
• 12:20 – 16:57: Julia Roberts stories, celebrity hair secrets
• 19:01 – 22:47: At-home hair color disasters; box dye myths
• 22:48 – 27:43: Building Highbrow Hippie; scalp & product focus
• 29:00 – 31:36: Hair washing best practices
• 31:36 – 34:32: Hair color trends & purple shampoo
• 35:21 – 37:43: Loyalty, fixing color mistakes, client relationships
• 38:22 – 41:06: What makes a bad (or good) client

Candid, witty, and full of practical wisdom, this episode is a goldmine for anyone serious about healthy, beautiful hair color.